Time-controlled electric switch.



C. FAY ER.

TIME CONIROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1916.

1,209,273. Patented Dec.19,1916.

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C. FAYER.

TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 12, I916.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- C. FAYER.

TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1916.

1,209,273.- Patented 1m 19,1916.

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J a vwe "fez lfiarlay Payer my afio'lmcv UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES FAYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WAPPLER ELECTBIC'COMPANY,INC., .-A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TIME-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916..

Application filed June 12, 1916. Serial No. 103,132.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES FAYER, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, boroughof Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State of .New York, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Time-Controlled Electric Switches, ofwhichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to time-controlled electric switches, of a kindsuitable for timing the action of X-ray tubes and the like, exemplifiedfor instance in the mechanism disclosed in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive ofmy Patent No. 1,100,063 dated June 16, 1914.

In order to facilitate an understanding of my invention, I will firstrefer briefly to the structure and action of this general type of switchas heretofore used in this art.

Contact mechanism is provided for opening and closing the circuit to becontrolled. Closely associated with this contact mechanism, for thepurpose ofactuating it, is a rocking lever which is movable in onedirection by a pull cord operated by hand, and is movable in theopposite direction by pressure of a spring. The movement of, the rockinglever in the direction first men'- tioned has no effect upon thecircuit, which is normally open, but the single retrograde movement ofthe rocking lever, 'under pressure of the spring, so actuates' thecontact mechanism as to cause first the closing of the circuit and thenthe opening thereof, the time interval between the closing and openingbeing the period duringwhich the circuit is rendered activesay, for theexcitation of an X-rav tube.

Connected wi. the rocking lever is a suction bellows provided with anair induct,

and so arranged that the aforesaid movement of the lever by the pullcord causes the deflation of the bellows, and the retrograde movement ofthe lever, under pressure of the spring, causes the bellows to benormalpositions.

its retrograde movement, and by so doing can control the time duringwhich the circuit remains closed. The bellows is provided with a ventingvalve for admitting air abruptly into the bellows in order to enable therocking lever to be shifted quickly under action of the pull cord. Thisventing valve, in the mechanism heretofore used, is very slow in itsaction.

By my. present invention-I seek to increase the efficiency of theswitch,and particularly to accomplish the following results: I. To add a lever,conveniently designated as a setting=lever and controllable by a pullcord, for the conjoint purpose of shifting and setting the rocking leverin order to cause deflation of the bellows; preventing accidentalengagement between the contact members during the shifting and settingof the rocking lever; and positively holding open the venting valve ofthe bel lows while the bellows is being deflated, thus insuringquickness of deflation. II. To add a trigger device," for the purpose ofsecurin the rocking lever in the position into which it is -moved by thesetting lever, the trigger device being controllable by a pullcordactuated by hand for causing the trigger device to release therocking lever. III. To establish a connection from the settinglever 80,to the venting-valve of the bellows, and so and deflate the bellows theventing valve is opened positively and .held open. until the deflationof the bellows is completed and the rocking lever set. IV..To refine theadjust ment of the air inlet and thus enable-the operator to controlmore accurately the time period during which the circuit is maintainedclosed by the contact mechanism.

- Reference is to be made to the accompanying. drawings forming a partof this specification, in which like letters indicate like parts in allof the views.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved switch complete, the device beingidle and the various movable parts occupying their Fig. 2 is a detailview showing the movable Wall of the bellows 101) the arrows.

side elevation of the switch complete, the

rocking lever being set and other movable parts occupying positionsaccordingly. Fig. 7 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig.1, looking inthe direction of the arrow, and showing the air inlet and means foradjusting the same. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7.7 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of'Fig.1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Secured rigidly upon a base 9.by fastenings 1Q is a bracket 11, andcarried by this bracket is a spider bar 12, held in position by screws13. Adjacent this bar the bracket 11 is provided with a flat portion 14.A bellows 15 is provided with a fixed board 16 and with a movable board17, the fixed board being secured rigidly to the bracket 11 by screws 11and pressing flush against the flat portion 14 thereof. A revoluble stem18, carrying a handle 19, extends through the spider bar 12 and flatportion 14 and is thus journaled to these derstood from. Fig. 8.

Extending through the fixed board 16 is parts, as may be Ima hole 20,having a form nearly but not quite cylindrical, as it.merges into aV-shaped channel 21. This hole serves asan air induct for the bellows. Asnail cam 22 is mounted upon the stem 18 and revoluble therewith. Thecam is provided with a sleeve 23 in: tegral with it and encircling thestem 18, upon which it is secured by a pin 24. The stem 18 carries acollar 25 secured rigidly upon it, and 'a spiral spring 26 lodgedagainst this cam, presses constantly against the snail cam so as tomaintain a substantially airtight fit between the cam and the adjacentflat portion 14 of the bracket 11. The cam 22 carries a lug 22 and thespider bar 12 is provided with a lug 22 against which the lug 22 isadapted to lodge when the stem. 18 isturned sufliciently in either oftwo directions. The lugs. 22, 22 thus constitute "a limiting stop forthe rotary movement of the cam. The stem 18 is further'provided with acollar 27, held in position upon'it ,by a

screw. 24*, this collar. having a finger 28 in i tegral with it andserving asa pointer. The spider bar 12 has a flat, circular portion 29upon which are marked graduations 30, the

pointer and graduations together forming an indicator." As'the stem 18is rotated by hand the snail cam covers or uncovers the air inlet abovedescribed, and thus controls meagre the admission of air into thebellows. The board 16 is further provided with a hole 31 of small sizeextending through it, and. in registry with this hole is an adjustingscrew 32. By adjusting this screw the hole 31 may be entirely orpartially closed, as desired. This hole 31, under control of theadjusting screw, serves to admit air into the bellows and thus serves asan auxiliary air inlet. It may be used or not, as desired, and if usedmay qualify the action of the main air induct, consisting of the snailcam 22 and the air hole controlled thereby as above described.

The movable board 17 of the bellows is provided with atubular sleeve 33extending through it and held in place by screws 34. This sleeve servesas a'vent, and is normally closed by a valve 35, which is carried by avalve 35 is for the purpose of venting the bellows in order tofacilitate the quick defiation thereof. A cord 41 isconnected to thelever 37 and is used for actuating the same in order to displace thevalve 35 and thus vent the bellows.

A connecting rod 42 is pivotally connected with the movable board 17 andalso with a rocking lever 43, the latter being secured rigidly upon ashort shaft 44. A spiral spring 45 encircles the shaft 44 .and isprovided with a straight portion of wire 46 which engages and presses vagainst a 1ug'47 carried by the rocking lever. The spring 45 is furtherprovided with a straight portion of wire 48 which engages a stop pin 49,the latter being carried by .a

10 0 constantly tension disk 50. The: tension disk is turned by hand inorder to adjust the tension ofithe spiral spring, and is normallystationary, being locked in position by a nut 51, which is mounted upona stem 52 to which the ten-.

spider bracket 55 is provided with two stop lugs 57, 58 for limiting thetravel of the rocking lever 43, the lug 58 also co-acting with thecontact mechanism for the purpose 'of opening the circuit, ashereinafter described. A contact bar 59 is provided with a contactmember 60 and is supported by .aid of .a pair of lugs 61 which areintegral with the rocking lever 43. The contact bar is thus fixed uponand carried by. the rock ing lever, from which it is insulated bysleeves 62 of. hard rubber or other appro- I priate insulating material.An insulated ries a contact member 69 which has a tendency to engage thecontact member 58 above described. That is to say, the spring 67, beingalways under tension, tends to turn the contact lever 65 slightly in aclockwise direction according to Fig. 1, upon the pin 64 as a center, soas'to bring the contact member 69 intoengagement with the contact member58. A guide 70, held in position by a screw 71, is provided for thecontact lever 65, thus insuring correct registry between the contactmembers 69, 60, and also serving as a limiting stopfor the contact lever65 in one direction of its travel relatively to the rocking lever 43, asmay be understood by comparing Figs. 1 and 3.

As the rocking lever 43, under pressure of the spring 45 (see Fig. 5)tends to turn ,in a clockwise direction according to Fig.

i post 73.

1, the outer or free end of the contact lever tends to lodge against thelug 58, but the rocking lever 63 moves a little farther in the samedirection of travel, that is, until the contact member 60 is drawn outof engagement with the contact member 69 and the guide 70, acting as alimiting stop, presses-squarely against the adjacent edge of the contactlever 65. Thus, under normal conditions of idleness, the circuitcontrollable by the contact mechanism is open.

A setting lever 72 is journaled upon a Encircling this post is a spiralspring 74, the tendency of which is to turn the lever 72 in a clockwisedirection according to Fig. 1. In this figure the lever is shown asoccupying its normal position. The lever carries a lug 75, which lodgesagainst a massive port-ion 76 of the bracket It also carries a screw 77,towhich the cord 41 is secured. The end portion 78 of the lever has anarcuate form. Adjacent this end portion is a pin 79, carried by the arm66, and extending therefrom across the path of travel of the endportion. A pull cord 80 is secured to the outer end of the lever 72, andis used for turning or rocking the same in a contra-clockwise directionaccording to Fig. 1. A trigger 81, having the form of a latch, isprovided with a notch 82 and is journaled to rock upon a pin 83. Aspiral spring 84 presses upwardly against this trigger. A bolt 85carries an eye 86,

and secured to this eye is a pull cord 87 for actuating the trigger.

An insulated connected to a binding post 89 upon the bracket 55.

.Whenever the pull cord 80 is pulled by hand the setting lever 72 isturned a contraclockwise direction according to Fig. l; the cord 41 isthus drawn taut, and caused to pull the valve 35 away from its seat andthus vent the bellows. the end portion 78 of the setting lever 72engages the pin 79 and thus, by pulling upon the arm 66, prevents thecontact member 69 from engagingthe contact member 60, and also causesthe lever 43 to rock in a contra-clockwise direction according toFig. 1. Therefore, the trigger 81 is engaged by the adjacent free end ofthe bell-crank lever 65, which slips into the notch 82' (see Figs. 4 and5), so that the trigger holds the bell-crank lever, and through it holdsthe rocking lever 43. The shifting and setting of the rocking lever 43,as just described, causes the connecting rod 42 to move to the leftaccording to Fig. 1, so as to cause the bellows to be deflated orcollapsed, this step taking place simultaneously with the venting of thebellows, by positive movement of the valve 35, as above described. Therocking lever thus being set and "arious other movable parts shiftedaccordingly, the cord 80 is now relaxed and the setting lever 72 returnsto its normal position as shown in Fig. 4. The consequent relaxation ofthe cord 41 allows the valve 35 to close. This done, the apparatus canremain for any desired length of time without any change in itscondition. Suppose, next, that the cord 87 is pulled by the operator.This rocks the latch 81, or in other words pulls the trigger, andliberates the bell-crank lever 65 and through it the rocking lever 43.Un-

der impulse of the spring 67 the bell-crank.

lever 65 rocks upon the pin 64, so that the contact member 69 engagesthe contact member 60; and therocking lever 43, under pressure of itsspring 45 (see Fig. 5) turns in a clockwise direction according toFig. 1. This movement of the rocking lever its retrograde movement afterbeing set and released is comparatively slow, its speed being retardedby the bellows. The degree of speed permitted by the bellows isdependent upon the rapidity with which the bellows can become inflatedby the entrance of air through the main and auxiliary air inducts. Asthe operator can control the admission of air through these inducts asabove set forth, he can render the retrograde movement of the rocking'lever slow or rapid, as he may desire.

Just before the rocking lever finishes its retrograde stroke thebell-crank lever lodges against the lug 58 and stops, so that as the Atthe same instant member 60 is moved out of engagement with control ofthe spring 45, makes'a general 68 1 the contact member 69.

The operation of my device is as follows: The various parts beingassembled and arranged as above described, I will suppose that at thestart the apparatus is in its normal condition of idleness, as indicatedin Figs. 1 and 5, and that the conductors 63 and 88 are in circuit withan X-ray tube and source of high-potential current for energizing thesamethe circuit being open because the oontactmembers 60, 69 are nowdisengaged.

The operator first assures himself that the .polarity of the circuit isproper for that of the X-ray tube. Next be times the apparatus for theproposed exposure. To do this he turns the handle 19 and'thus rotatesthe stem 18 and snail cam 22," so as to adjust the size, or airadmitting capacity, of the hole 20 as above described. This will adjustthe rapidity of movement of the bellows and all movable partscontrollable thereby, during the retrograde movement of the rockinglever. That is, this adjustment will determine the time during which thetit) rocking lever, if set and released, will make its retrogrademovement, and consequently the time during which the circuit will remainclosed. The time period thus determined is indicated by the position ofthe pointer 28 relatively to the graduations 30, as may be understoodfrom Fig. 7. Any number of exposures may be made in succession with onedetermination ofthe time period. The operator next grasps the pull cord80 i and pulls it. This actuates the setting lever 72 as abovedescribed, and the setting lever pulls the cord 41, thus venting thebellows, and also sets the rocking lever without closing the contactmechanism. The rocking lever, acting throughthe connecting rod 42,'defiates the bellows quickly, the venting of the bellows facilitatingthis purpose. The operator hears the click of the trigger 81 as theouter end of the lever slips into the notch 82 (see 5) and is thusapprised when the rocking lever is completely set. He thereupon relaxesthe pull cord and removes his hand therefrom. This leaves the, apparatusin the condition indicated in Fig. 4.

When the precise moment arrives for the exposure to be made, he merelygrasps and tightens the pull cord 87. This causes the trigger todisengage the bell-crank lever 65, and in so doin to release the rockinglever 43. The resu t is that the bell-crank lever 65, acting undercontrol of the spring 67 rocks slightly upon the pin 64 as a center, ina clockwise direction according to Fig. 4, and thus brings the contactmember 69 into engagement with the contact member 60. The rocking lever43, now being under retrograde movement, that is, rocks in a clockwisedirection according to Fig. 4, at a rate of speed dependent upon thetime 1nterval previously selected. As the rocking lever 43 nears thelimit of its travel the outer or free end of the bell-crank lever 65lodges against the stationary lug 58' and is thus brought to a stop, sothat'the farther movement of the lever 43 carries the contact member 60out of engagement with the contactmember 69. Then the lever 43 isbrought to a standstill because the guide 60, acting as a limiting stop,lodges against the adjacent portion of the bell-crank lever. Thus at thefinish of the exposure, theapparatus is left in its normal condition,shown in Fig. 1.

lit will be noted that while the rocking lever is being shifted and set,by action of the setting lever, the setting lever positively preventsthe accidental engagement of the contact members, and also positivelyvents the bellows. The danger of accidental or premature closure of thecircuit is thus revented, the setting is accomplished wit a minimum ofdelay, and after the setting is completed, the operator need not concernhimself about the'condition of this part of the apparatus until he isready to make the exposure. Then in making the exposure he simply pullsa cord one time, this being a most natural, simple and easily performedmovement.

All of the various mechanical steps above described are performed insuccessive order and with precision due to positive move ment, by firsta simple pull by hand upon one cord, to place practically the entireapparatus in condition for an exposure, and then another simple pullupon another cord, to make the exposure and restore the apparatus as awhole to its normal condition of idleness.

\ I do not limit myself to the specific use above suggested for mydevice, as it may be employed in a number of different relations.Neither do I limit myself to the particular form shown, as variationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: 1. In an. apparatus of the character described the combinationof contact mechanism for opening and closing an electric circuit, a.movable member connected to said contact mechanism for the purpose ofactuating the same, means for conferringupon said movable member amovement in one direction to cause said contact mechanism to close andopen said electric circuit, a pneumatic retarding device, connected tosaid movable member in order to retard the movement thereof in saiddirection, a setting it is thus shifted, said trigger mechanismbeingcontrollable at the wil of the operator for releasing said movablemember.

2. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of contactmechanism for opening and closing an electric circuit, a movable memberconnected to said contact mechanism in order to actuate the same, meansfor conferring upon said movable member a movement in one direction tocause said contact mechanism to close and open said electric circuit, apneumatic retarding device connected to said movable member in order toretard the movement thereof in said direction, a setting lever forshifting said movable member in the opposite direction, and mechanismconnected with said setting lever and'said pneumatic device andcontrollable by a movement of said setting lever for venting saidpneumatic device while said setting lever is shifting said movablemember. I

3. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of contactmechanism for closing and opening an electriccircuit, a movable memberconnected to said contact mechanism, means for conferring upon saidmovable member a movement in.

one direction to cause said contact mechan sm to close and open saidelectric circuit, a pneumatic retarding device connected to said movablemember in order to retard the move-- ment thereof in said direction, asetting lever controllable at the will of the operator for shifting saidmovable member in the opposite direction, trigger mechanism for holdingsaid movable member when thus shifted, said trigger'mechanism beingcontrollable at the will of the operator for releasing said movablemember, and means for retracting said setting lever into a predeterminednormal position independently'of the position in which the rocking leveris set.

4. In an apparatus of the character describedthe combination of contactmechanism for closing and opening anelectric circuit, a movable memberconnected to .said contact mechanism, means for conferring uponsaidmovable member a movement in one direction to cause said contactmechanism to close and open said electric circuit, means for retardingsaid movable" member as it moves in said direction, mechanismcontrollable at the will of the operator for shifting said movablemember in the opposite direction and trigger. mechanism'for holding saidmovable member when thus shifted, said trigger mechanismbeingcontrollable at the will of the operator for releasing said movablemember.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination ofcontact mechacuit, a movable member connected to said contact mechanism,means for shifting the position of said movable member in order toactuate said contact mechanism, a pneumatic retarding device connectedwith said movable member for retarding the travel thereof, saidpneumaticretarding device having an air hole and a channel merging intosaid air hole for admitting air, said pneumatic device being furtherprovided with a snail cam disposed adjacent said air hole and channel,and adjustable for the purpose of adjusting the capacity thereof.

6. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of contactmechanism for closing and opening an electric circuit, a movable memberconnected to said contact mechanism, means for shifting the position ofsaid movable member in order to actuate said contact mechanism,apneumatic retarding device connected with said movable member forretarding the travel thereof, said pneumatic retarding device having 'anair hole and a channel of substantially V-form in cross section merginginto said air hole, said pneumatic device being further provided with aflat snail cam disposed adjacent said air hole and channel for thepurpose of partially obstructing the same, and with means for enablingthe operator toturn said snail cam. I

7. The combination of a rocking lever, contact mechanism carried by saidrocking lever and controllable by movements thereof for closing andopening an electric circuit, a pneumatic retarding device connected withsaid rocking lever for retarding the movement thereof in order to timethe opening and closing of said circuit, said retarding to be, opened inorder to preventsaid retarding device from retarding the restora ---nismfor closing and opening an electric cirtion of said rocking lever to apredetermined position, a setting lever movable at the will of theoperator for restoring'said rocking lever to itsv said position, andmeans controllable by said setting lever for opening said vent.

8. The combination of a rocking lever,

contact mechanism carried by said rocking lever and controllable by amovement thereof in one direction for closing and opening an electriccircuit, a retarding device connected with said rocking lever in orderto I retardv said movement thereof. and thus time the action of saidcontact mechanism, a set-i ting lever disposed adjacent said rockinglever and controllable at the will of the operator for engaging saidsetting lever and shifting the same into a predetermined position, andtrigger mechanism for holding said rocking lever in said position, saidtrigger mechanism being controllable at the will of the operator forreleasing said rocking lever.

9. A device of the character described, comprising a rocking lever,contact mechanism carried by said rocking lever and controllable by amovement thereof for the purpose of closing and opening an electriccircuit trigger mechanism disposed partially Within the ath of travel ofsaidcontact mechanism or the purpose of engaging said contact mechanismand temporarily pre-- venting movement of said contact mechanism and ofsaid rocking lever, and means controllable at the will of the operatorfor actuating said trigger mechanism in order to release said rockinglever.

CHARLES FAYER.

